Four of Swords
"A knight lies in repose upon his tomb, three swords on the wall and one beneath him: the pause needed to regain strength."
Upright meaning
The Four of Swords is the forced halt after the battle. It is not defeat: it is recovery. It speaks of rest, of retreating to heal, of falling silent so the mind can settle. The swords rest on the wall: for now there is no fighting to do, only recovering.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, the rest breaks. Either you cannot stop and exhaustion takes its toll, or the time has come to return to action after the retreat. The pause has served its purpose.
In love
A need for a pause or distance to heal. Sometimes the bond is cared for by giving it air.
In work and money
Take a breath before pressing on. A tired mind decides badly; resting is productive.
The card's advice
Allow yourself to stop: the sword is also sharpened while held still.